Dec. 22, 2008
Box Score
Stockton, Calif. - Behind a career-night from sophomore Gretchen Tiernan (Roseville, Calif.) and double-doubles from seniors Amber Simmons (Chico, Calif.) and Janae Young (Sacramento, Calif.) the Pacific women's basketball team picked up a 76-64 win over Sacramento State on Monday, December 22. The win moved the Tigers back to .500 on the year at 5-5 while the Hornets dropped to 2-9 overall.
Pacific is perfect at home in the Alex G. Spanos Center, winning all five games at home.
Just as they had done the game before, the Tigers jumped out to a quick double-digit lead over their opponents, putting the Hornets into a 14-4 hole just four and a half minutes into the contest. Out of the gate, the Tigers went to work from all angles on the offensive end, hitting a pair of three-pointers, a pair of layups and a midrange jumper to start the contest. In the half, Pacific would push its lead to as much as 12 points midway through the first half behind the sharpshooting of Tiernan who equaled her previous career best 12 points in the first half alone on 4-of-7 shooting from behind the arc.
Despite the big lead, the Tigers could not hold off the Hornets for the entire half as Sacramento State mounted a rally over the final 11 minutes of the half to get back into the game. Led by Charday Hunt, the Hornets went on a 23-10 run over the span of eight minutes to capture their first lead of the contest at 32-31 with just under four minutes to play in the half. Hunt paced the Hornets in the half with 11 points.
With their lead erased, Pacific was able to come out on top in the final minutes of the first half to take a three point lead into the break. Coming into the contest the Tigers were a perfect 4-0 on the year when leading at the halftime intermission, a record they would uphold in the second half.
Regrouping at half, the Tigers poured it on to start the second half of action, scoring 14 unanswered points after the Hornets scored the opening basket to build a 15 point lead just five minutes into the half. After scoring seven points in the first half, Young exploded for seven points in the Tigers' run to break the contest open for Pacific. For the game, Young posted her second double-double of the year, scoring 14 points and 10 rebounds in the game.
Again, the Tigers pushed their lead to a game-high, taking a 17 point lead with 7:15 before the Hornets mounted a final push that would cut the game's difference to single digits at 70-64 with just over one minute to play. However, the Tigers would close the contest out at the line to come away with a final victory margin of 12. Despite hitting their final four free-throws, the Tigers finished the game just 11-of-19 from the line.
Held to eight points and two rebounds in the first half, the Big West's and Pacific's leading scorer, Simmons, took control of the game in the second half to finish with 22 points and 10 rebounds. The double-double marked her fourth of the year and second consecutive while the 22 points was her sixth 20+ point effort of the year. Tiernan finished with a career-high 15 points on a career-high five three-pointers.
After scoring 11 in the first half, Hunt continued her scoring efforts in the final 20 minutes of play to come away with a game-high 24 points on 8-of-17 shooting and 4-of-8 shooting from distance. Atty Boyer finished the game with eight points and 10 rebounds.
Pacific outrebounded its opponent 41-37, crashing the offensive glass to the tune of 21 offensive rebounds.
The Tigers will be back in action on Sunday, December 28 when they play host to Iona at the Spanos Center. Game time is scheduled for 4:00 pm.
